Index for P&R News Volume 5 Issue 4

Women Preaching Issue Won't Go AwayThe issue of women preaching, which has been disturbing the peace of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) for most of 1999, has refused to go away. To date, four presbyteries have petitioned the General Assembly to assume original jurisdiction over the pastor of a prominent PCA congregation. That minister's presbytery, Tennessee Valley, has declared female preaching to be inappropriate, but has also vindicated the Session of the church in question. The Session of the church has responded to Tennessee Valley Presbytery, including asking that whenever an unordained person speaks in worship, that not be considered "preaching." One of the four presbyteries which petitioned for original jurisdiction has responded to Tennessee Valley Presbytery. The officers of the Standing Judicial Commission (SJC) have ruled that the judicial case is "out of order." And at least two presbyteries are set to reply to the SJC, arguing that the case indeed is in order.

Excerpts from the Lady's MessagesTennessee Valley Presbytery vindicated the Session of Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church, Knoxville, Tennessee, with regard to having a woman bring two messages during public worship. Here are excerpts from those messages.

Presbytery Rules Against Participation in Promise KeepersWestminster Presbytery has upheld a complaint, brought against a Session for its support of the popular men's organization called Promise Keepers. The Presbytery also sustained a complaint against the use of video clips in public worship. Not sustained were two other complaints, regarding participation in Teen Mania's Acquire the Fire rally, and regarding the replacement of a Sunday night service with a Saturday night service.

MNA Committee Meets in October for Stated MeetingMission to North America (MNA), the home missions committee of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) met in early October for its fall stated meeting. Among items on the agenda were new policies and coordinators for the campus ministry (Reformed University Ministries, or RUM); and a challenge to MNA's use of executive sessions. Featured in the coverage here are interviews with Archie Parrish, Coordinator for Church Vitality; and David Peterson, head of chaplains for the denomination.

The Reformation Day StatementHere is the statement, signed by numerous leaders in the evangelical and Reformed community, which was called "unloving."

Ethics Professor Featured in Christianity TodayCovenant Theological Seminary ethics professor David C. Jones, in an article in Christianity Today, has questioned anti-sodomy laws, and expressed openness to some domestic partnership legislation.

Denominational Seminary Snubs Church PressThe denominational seminary of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) has snubbed the church press. The controversy arose over the coverage of story dealing with anti-sodomy laws.

NAPARC Meets in North CarolinaThe twenty-fifth meeting of the North America Presbyterian and Reformed Council (NAPARC) met in Flat Rock, North Carolina, in November 1999. Among the major items was the taking of a small, but significant, step toward organic union among the NAPARC denominations. Keynote speaker Bill Evans laid out challenges he foresees for the conciliar body. NAPARC snubs the Christian Reformed Church, which has been suspended from but not yet expelled from the organization. NAPARC finally decides what to do with money left over from the celebration of the 350th anniversary of the Westminster Assembly. And NAPARC takes financial and other action.

Creation Study Committee: In Search of a ConsensusThe Creation Study Committee (CSC) met in September 1999 in Charlotte. Commissioned by the 1998 General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), the CSC is trying to find a consensus among the various views of the doctrine of creation.

New Church for the BerkshiresThe Berkshires of Western Massachusetts have long been a "burned over" region with respect to the gospel. But a new mission work promises to bring fresh life to the parched region.

Letters-to-the-EditorOur readers comment on a wide array of subjects, including our view of contemporary worship, and "back-to-the-future" church planting.

News from the PresbyteriesIn this issue, we feature news from fifteen (15)presbyteries of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA): Ascension, Calvary, Central Carolina, Covenant, Eastern Canada, Eastern Carolina, Grace, James River, Mid-America, New River, North Florida, North Georgia, Philadelphia, Potomac, and Westminster.

News from Covenant CollegeBesides responding to a protest regarding a college choir singing in the Roman Catholic mass, the Covenant College Board handled other matters at its October stated meeting. Among them was the approval of a new minor.